BJP Announces ₹5,000 Monthly Allowance for Accredited Journalists in West Bengal

Kolkata, April 20, 2026: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced a monthly allowance of ₹5,000 for all accredited journalists in West Bengal if it forms the government after the ongoing state Assembly elections. The pledge was made by state BJP president Samik Bhattacharya during a ‘meet-the-press’ event at the Press Club in Kolkata on Saturday.
Bhattacharya described the scheme as a step towards providing financial support and a sense of security to the media fraternity. He stressed that the benefit would be extended uniformly without any discrimination. “There will be no division among journalists; the scheme will apply to everyone who meets the eligibility criteria,” he said, adding that the amount, though modest, signals the party’s recognition of journalists’ role in democracy. 
The announcement comes just days before the two-phase polling on April 23 and April 29, 2026, with vote counting scheduled for May 4. It has sparked mixed reactions, with some viewing it as a welfare measure for media professionals facing economic challenges, while critics have called it an election-time inducement aimed at influencing the fourth estate.
BJP leaders maintained that details of implementation, including eligibility norms and rollout mechanism, would be finalised later. The promise forms part of the party’s broader outreach ahead of the high-stakes battle against the ruling Trinamool Congress.